TRUMP’S TWITTER ACCOUNT HACKED IN OCTOBER 2020: DUTCH MINISTRY

Dutch prosecutors have confirmed that Donald Trump’s Twitter account was hacked in October despite denials from Washington and the company, but said the “ethical hacker” would not face charges.

The hacker, named as Victor Gevers, broke into Trump’s account @realDonaldTrump on October 16, 2020 by guessing the US president’s password, Dutch media reports said, the Guardian of the UK reported.

Both the White House and Twitter strenuously denied reports that the account had been hacked. Gevers, 44, disclosed the hack immediately, saying the password he guessed was “maga2020!” referring to the Trump slogan “Make America Great Again.”

The public prosecutor’s office (Openbaar Ministerie) said: “We believe the hacker has actually penetrated Trump’s Twitter account, but has met the criteria that have been developed in case law to go free as an ethical hacker.”

It added that hacking was a criminal offence in the Netherlands. But it said that “special circumstances” also referred to in practice as “responsible disclosure” could stop prosecutors from taking steps. Dutch prosecutors made their findings based on an investigation by the police specialist cyber unit, called Team High-tech Crime.

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